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Whether or not to capitalise the word 'constitution' depends on the context in which it is being used. When referring to the US Constitution, it is generally considered correct to capitalise the word. This is because it is seen as a proper noun in this context, referring to a specific legally binding document. However, when used in a generic or descriptive sense, such as when referring to a club or organisation's constitution, it is usually written in lowercase. Some style guides also differentiate between national constitutions, which are always capitalised, and those of subordinate governments, which are not. Additionally, the adjective 'constitutional' is never capitalised.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| When used as an adjective | Lowercase |
| When used descriptively | Lowercase |
| When referring to a specific country's constitution | Capitalized |
| When referring to the U.S. Constitution | Capitalized |
| When referring to the UK | Not capitalized, unless it's the first word in a sentence |
| When referring to a specific document | Capitalized |
| When referring to the government's document | Capitalized |
| When referring to the Irish Constitution | Capitalized |
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What You'll Learn
Capitalising 'Constitution' when referring to the US Constitution
The use of capitalisation varies depending on the style guide being followed. For instance, the UK's Guardian newspaper chooses not to capitalise 'constitution' unless it is the first word of a sentence. However, when referring specifically to the US Constitution, it is generally regarded as a proper noun and is therefore capitalised.
The US Constitution is a legally binding document, and when referring to it directly, it is stylistically and grammatically correct to capitalise 'Constitution'. This is a widely accepted convention, and many sources agree that 'Constitution' should be capitalised in this context.
When using 'constitution' as an adjective, it is written in lowercase. For example, "unconstitutional" or "our club needs a better constitution". In these instances, 'constitution' is not being used as a proper noun and does not require capitalisation.
Some sources suggest that when referring to a specific country's constitution, it should be treated as a proper noun and thus capitalised. For example, "China's 1978 Constitution" or "the Irish Constitution". However, this is not universally accepted, and some style guides differentiate between national constitutions and those of subordinate governments, arguing that only the former should be capitalised.
It is worth noting that the use of capitalisation has evolved over time. In Early Modern English, there was a period when all abstract nouns were capitalised, but this practice was eventually abandoned due to pressure from writers who wanted to emphasise individual words.
In the context of the US Constitution, it is generally accepted that 'Constitution' should be capitalised, while 'constitutional' remains lowercase. This is a specific linguistic convention when referring to the US Constitution and may not apply to other countries' constitutions.
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Lowercasing 'constitution' when used descriptively
The use of a capital "C" when referring to a "constitution" depends on the context in which the word is being used. While "Constitution" is typically capitalized when referring to a specific country's legally binding document, it is not always necessary to use a capital letter.
When used descriptively, the word "constitution" should be written in lowercase. For example, "our club needs a better constitution". Here, "constitution" is used in a general sense to describe the set of rules governing the club, rather than referring to a specific, legally binding document.
The same lowercase style applies when using "constitution" as an adjective. For example, in the phrase "federal constitutional law," the "c" in "constitutional" should be lowercase.
Some style guides suggest that the word "constitution" should only be capitalized when referring to the United States Constitution or other specific national constitutions. For example, "He held in his hand a copy of The Irish Constitution." In this case, "Constitution" is capitalized as it refers to the official title of the document.
However, it is worth noting that different countries may have different conventions for capitalizing "constitution." While some countries may always capitalize it when referring to their constitution, others may only capitalize it when it is the first word in a sentence or when it is used as a proper noun. Ultimately, the decision to capitalize "constitution" may depend on the specific style guide being used and the context in which the word appears.
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Capitalising 'Constitution' when referring to a specific document
The use of a capital "C" when referring to a specific constitution varies depending on the style guide being used. Most sources agree that when referring to the US Constitution, a capital "C" is used. This is because it is considered a proper noun in this context.
For example, "He held in his hand a copy of The Irish Constitution" or "In China's 1978 Constitution, we can see that...". Here, the use of a capital "C" indicates that the constitution is being referred to as a specific, legally binding document rather than in a descriptive or generic sense.
Some style guides differentiate between national constitutions and those of subordinate governments, arguing that only the former should be capitalised. In the case of the US Constitution, it is often capitalised regardless of whether it is being referred to as a specific document or not.
However, some publications, like the UK Guardian, take a different approach and choose not to capitalise "constitution" even when referring to a specific document. This is not a standard practice, and most other sources recommend capitalising "constitution" when referring to a specific, named document.
It is worth noting that the adjective "constitutional" is never capitalised, regardless of the context.
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Using 'Constitution' as a proper noun
The use of capitalisation often depends on whether a word is a proper noun or not. While "constitution" is not a proper noun, when referring to a legally binding document, such as the US Constitution, it is often capitalised. This is a linguistic convention, and it is treated as a proper noun in this context.
For example, "America's original Constitution has been stored in the national archives". Here, referring to the US Constitution as a formal document, it is appropriate to use a capital "C". However, when used in a descriptive manner, it should be written in lowercase. For instance, "our chess club needs a better constitution".
Some style guides differentiate between national constitutions and those of subordinate governments, arguing that only the former should be capitalised. For example, "the Wisconsin Constitution" becomes "the constitution", but "the United States Constitution" remains "the Constitution".
In the UK, publications like *The Guardian* choose not to capitalise these terms, even when referring to the UK government. They only capitalise "queen" when it is referring to Queen Elizabeth II.
Capitalisation rules can vary depending on the style guide being used, and publishers usually require consistency within a document.
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Capitalising 'Constitution' when referring to America's Constitution
The use of a capital "C" when referring to "the Constitution" varies depending on the style guide being used and the context in which the word is being used.
Technically, "constitution" is not a proper noun, so it shouldn't be capitalised. However, when referring to a specific country's legally binding constitution, such as the United States Constitution, it is common to capitalise the word as it is being used as a shorthand name for the official document. This is a linguistic convention where the word is capitalised when used as a title or proper noun and in lowercase when used as a common noun. For example, "America's original Constitution has been stored in the national archives," but "our singing group needs a better constitution."
Some style guides differentiate between national constitutions and those of subordinate governments, arguing that only the former should be capitalised. For example, "the Wisconsin Constitution" becomes "the constitution," while "the United States Constitution" remains "the Constitution."
The decision to capitalise "constitution" when referring to America's Constitution is often a matter of personal or media style guide preference. For example, The Guardian chooses not to capitalise these terms, even when referring to Queen Elizabeth II, while many Americans prefer to capitalise "Constitution" when referring to their country's legally binding document.
Ultimately, the use of a capital "C" when referring to "the Constitution" of a specific country, such as America, is a matter of style guide preference and context. When used as a shorthand title for the official document, it is generally capitalised, while in other contexts, such as when used as an adjective or in a descriptive manner, it is written in lowercase.
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Frequently asked questions
The general rule is that when referring to a specific country's constitution, you should use a capital C. For example, "America's original Constitution has been stored in the national archives". However, some publications, like the UK's Guardian newspaper, choose not to capitalise the word unless it is the first word in a sentence.
No, when the word "constitution" is used in a descriptive or generic sense, it should not be capitalised. For example, "The chess club needed a new constitution".
Yes, when referring specifically to the US Constitution, the word "Constitution" should be capitalised.
